Leighton House

Leighton House is a Grade II* listed museum on Holland Park Road — the former home and studio of Victorian artist Frederic Lord Leighton, designed by George Aitchison from 1864 and extended over thirty years as Leighton's reputation and collection grew. The building won a Europa Nostra Award following its most recent restoration, and the event spaces within it are genuinely unlike anything else available for private hire in London.

The Arab Hall

The centrepiece. Over a thousand Islamic tiles collected from Damascus line a room inspired by the 12th-century palace of La Zisa in Palermo, beneath a gilded dome with a Walter Crane mosaic frieze and a central fountain. It functions as the main reception space on the ground floor — combined with the Dining Room and Drawing Room, the Arab Hall reception holds 80 standing. The restrictions that come with it are part of the character: no dark beverages, no amplified music, no dancing. This is a museum hire, and the constraints shape events that respect the setting rather than fight it.

Leighton's Studio

Upstairs, the painting studio retains its great north-facing window and original artwork on the walls — a room built for light and scale that seats 60 for dinner or holds 150 standing. The ceiling height and proportions give it a grandeur that purpose-built event rooms rarely achieve. It's the venue's most flexible large space and works for seated dinners, receptions, and performances.

The Dining Room

Guests dining here sit at Leighton's original table — barely used since his death in 1896. The room seats 18 for an intimate private dinner that carries genuine historical weight. For small corporate groups or milestone celebrations, the provenance of the setting elevates an evening in ways that décor alone cannot.

Practical Considerations at Leighton House

Bovingdons serves as the exclusive caterer, ensuring consistency across all event formats. The Silk Room and garden are included in whole-house hire (garden available until 9pm). A permanent Steinway B piano is available for performances. Access from 5:30pm with guest arrival from 6:30pm; events conclude by 10pm with an alcohol licence until 10:30pm. The heritage protections are strict — no electric wheelchairs or scooters due to the fragile building fabric — and should be factored into accessibility planning. Kensington Olympia and High Street Kensington are the nearest stations. The venue is licensed for weddings.